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The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta, has said that the Police are overwhelmed by the spates of insurgencies in the country.
Kuta, who stated this at the weekend when he led his committee on an oversight function to the headquarters of the Nigerian Army in Abuja, however, advocated for the involvement of the Army in containing the security challenges in the country.
He expressed concern over the imbalance in recruitment into the Nigeria Army.
Sen. Kuta said “We need the army to curtail the high level of insecurity in the country, for the meantime there is nothing we can do about it, because the Police have not been able to achieve much, not because they are completely incapable, but may be because of their orientation and equipment available to them. I think that is why we need the support of the military to ensure that the security challenges are addressed.
“They are capable and more than able to meet all the challenges we are talking about and I am very sure because the way the military is structured now, all the modern equipment we require have been made available to them. The army is capable and is battle ready to curtail any security insurgency.
“Wherever you see the military, I am sure it is of necessity for them to be there, to ensure and contribute towards peace and better living condition for people”, the committee chairman said.
On recruitment into the Army, Sen. Kuta said “the areas where we think there are some imbalance is the area of recruitment into the army as it affects states and other geopolitical zones, they agreed with us and have explained what happened and that they are going to do everything possible to address the imbalance.”
In his address to the Senate Committee, the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt General Azubuike Ihejirika said that challenge of internal security is one of the key issues for the army especially in the face of rising terrorist activities.
He also called on Nigerians especially those aggrieved to let the old wounds heal and said, “If we don’t allow that, there would not be space for forgiveness and we cannot move ahead with the required peace.
“I believe that the people involved in this process must be seen to be coming out with equity and that they must be just in their handling of the situation”, he advised.
